Raina Grace: nine month update

Is there anything sweeter in the world than a nine-month old baby? I just don't think so. They smile, they giggle and play. They eat and crawl and still sleep (hopefully) two times a day. They interact more than ever before and it's just glorious. Raina is all of these things, and I love her so very much. 

This month has been another full of milestones for our little 'chunk of joy' (Steve's favorite name for her haha) including eating solids, pulling up to stand, and sleeping her crib the entire night instead of with us. Each is met with joy and a little sorrow by her mother, whose heart aches to see her baby grow up so fast, yet swells with each new accomplishment she masters. 

She has two bottom teeth and as I type this just shy of her turning ten-months, no new teeth seem eager to make an appearance. She chews on everything in sight and unlike Riggs at the same age, everything goes in her mouth, from grass to rocks to tiny legos.

Luckily for me, Riggs is almost more attentive than I am when it comes to his baby sister and he notices usually right away when she puts something off-limits in her mouth. He's such a great big brother and for the most part is very sweet and kind to Raina.

She really started getting into solids about halfway through her ninth month, and now has worked up to quite a voracious appetite. Her favorite foods are strawberries, avocado, cottage cheese, and egg yolks, although she happily eats anything I've given her so far. She only breastfeeds about three times during the day, sometimes more or even less.

Unfortunately she makes up for it in the night, nursing typically 2-4 times throughout the night. I am totally comfortable with two times during her 12 hour sleep cycle, and if she gets more into a routine of only waking twice I probably won't do anything to night wean for quite a while. But lately it's been three times each night and last night it was four times, which really starts to affect how well I make it through the following day. We did just transition her to sleeping in her crib the entire night, rather than starting the night in there and then ending up in bed with us, so I want to give her a little time to see if her night waking gradually balances out on it's own.

At her nine-month appointment Raina measured 28.5 inches which puts her in the 75th% for length, 20lbs 3oz which is 76th% for weight, and her head measured 47cm which lands about in the 99th%. She wears size 4 diapers and probably will for quite a long time, as she is leaning out and her diapers and clothes are fitting differently with each passing week since she has become mobile. She still fits in many of her 6-12m clothes, but I fear they will have to be put away and replaced with all 12-18m sizes soon.

I am blessed beyond measure to have her in my life and everyday I squeeze her and hug her and kiss her neck until she squirms to get away. I try so hard to savor every moment of her first year and yet find that despite my efforts the time is slipping away more quickly than I even though possible.  The next update I do will be her twelve month update, and she will be moving onto her toddler years, forever leaving her babyhood behind.

Raina,
These last nine (nearly ten) months have been so full of love and light, and as the days pass I find that I only love you more and more. As my love grows, so does our relationship, and even as I mourn your passing babyhood, I look forward eagerly to all that yet stands before us in our lives together as mother and daughter. You are a precious gift that I cherish dearly and I hope that you always know that.
Love,
Mama